I was caught off guard when “Hail to the Lord’s Anointed” was introduced on the program.  At church this morning we sang this hymn (LSB 398) with the usual tune (FREUT EUCH, IHR LIEBEN) that has been used in at least 4 generations of LCMS hymnals.  The setting on Sing for Joy was set to ES FLOG EIN KLEINS WALDVOGELEING (the tune used for the Gloria in Excelsis, LSB Setting 4).  And it was the Gloria that came to my mind when the hymn began.

Hymn texts and tunes are often intimately connected in a worshiping community.  The tune helps to carry and reinforce the text and make the text more memorable. Moreover, singing helps us to inwardly digest the hymn text.

Unfortunately, sometimes a tune is deemed “too hard” so a worthy text is disliked or not sung at all.  Conversely, a lacking text might be overused because the tune is appealing.  Consider Luther’s “From Depths of Woe I Cry to Thee.” While it does not have an easy hymn tune, the tune superbly supports and interprets the text.  I can’t imagine singing that text to a different tune.  When possible, a choir or small ensemble can introduce and assist in difficult hymns.  And yes, it is OK sometimes to choose an alternate tune if needed, but please don’t pick another tune with the same meter before checking it out.  The lilting tune ALLEIN GOTT IN DER HOH (tune for All Glory Be to God on High) has the same meter as AUS TIEFER NOT (tune for From Depths of Woe), but doesn’t fit the spirit of the text.

One particular good tune reassignment in Lutheran Service Book comes to mind: Hark! A Thrilling Voice is Sounding (LSB 345).  In both Lutheran Worship and Lutheran Book of Worship the tune was FREUEN WIR UNS ALL IN EIN.  I like this tune in a minor key, but I suspect it wasn’t used much.  Most other hymnals and now LSB have used MERTON as the hymn tune.  With the new tune in LSB my congregations now willingly sing this text.

An added benefit of the close connection between text and tune is for the parish musician, particularly the organist.  The organ can “sing” a hymn tune as a prelude or postlude.  The congregation, if familiar with the tune, may associate the appropriate text and use it as an opportunity to meditate on the words.  If the text or tune is not familiar, with some forethought the hymn information could be inserted into the service folder for reference.

Back full circle to where I began:  While I didn’t expect to hear “Hail to the Lord’s Anointed” today with a different tune, the alternate tune provided a fresh and satisfying opportunity to sing the text.

Thanks for reading On Texts and Tunes.